Tests Used to Diagnose Secondary High Blood Pressure
The following table lists the various tests used to confirm secondary
high blood pressure and clarify its causes. Your doctor may use one or more of
these tests for each condition depending on your individual situation. This is not a complete list of causes or tests.
Testing for secondary causes of high blood pressure
|
Secondary cause
|
Reasons to suspect
|
Test used to evaluate
|
| Narrowing of the aorta (the artery that carries
blood from your heart to the rest of your body) |
- High blood pressure accompanied by low
pulse in the legs
| Imaging of the aorta by one of the following:
- Echocardiogram
- CT angiography
- Magnetic
resonance angiography (MRA)
- Angiogram
|
| Hardening or narrowing of the arteries in your
kidneys (renal artery stenosis) |
- High blood pressure at a young age,
particularly in women
- Severe problems with your blood vessels in other parts of
your body
| A test that clearly shows the structure of your
renal arteries:
- Ultrasound
- Renal
arteriogram
- MRA
|
| Hormonal imbalances |
- Diabetes
- Obesity in the
middle of your body
- Facial swelling
- Acne
|
- Blood tests that show your hormone
levels
|
| Excess production of the hormone aldosterone, which
regulates the salt and water balance in your kidneys |
- Low levels of potassium in your
blood
|
- Blood or urine tests that show your
hormone and potassium levels
|
| A tumor in your adrenal glands (located just above
your kidneys) |
- Headaches
- Fluttering in your
heart
- Flushing
- Unstable blood pressure
|
- Specific blood (hormone) and urine
tests
- Specialized imaging studies
|
| High blood pressure caused by a new medicine |
- You are taking a new medicine.
|
- Review of your medicine
list
- Reevaluation of blood pressure when suspected agent is
discontinued
|
|
High blood pressure caused by alcohol, cocaine, or
amphetamines
|
- You use cocaine, amphetamines, or
excessive alcohol.
|
- Reevaluation of blood pressure when
suspected agent is discontinued
|
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Current as ofNovember 20, 2015
Current as of:
November 20, 2015
